Minter: "I'll ride or die with coach Miles"

Former LSU linebacker Kevin Minter's final game as a Tiger was a gut-wrenching one, as Clemson beat the Tigers at the gun in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl 25-24. LSU head coach Les Miles has likewise been criticized harshly for his decision to throw the ball three straight times on the Tigers' final offensive drive, two of which fell incomplete. Those incompletions allowed Clemson to preserve their timeouts and left their offense plenty of time for the game-winning march.

"I'll ride or die with Coach Miles," says Minter by phone, who made an incredible 19 tackles in the loss, "There's a reason I went there to play. He's a great man. Any time you're a high profile coach like him, you're going to get scrutinized."

Minter also shared his thoughts on deciding to go pro after an incredible junior season. He's projected as a third round selection in the upcoming NFL Draft, but hopes to improve his stock between now and then in the combines.

"Talking to my family, just seemed right. I had a real good season. The draft boards have me high. It's always hard leaving an institution like LSU."

When asked what memory at LSU stood out the most, it was hard to pinpoint one.

"Just the whole experience. Being part of a tradition like that, a winning tradition, is unreal. I just appreciate the opportunity to wear the purple and gold. It's something I'll always take with me. I'm proud to be an LSU Tiger."

When asked what was his favorite Tiger Stadium moment, Minter perhaps surprisingly answered with a game LSU lost. The 2009 13-3 loss to #1 Florida, before a then record crowd of 93,129 and a prime time CBS audience is strongly recalled.

"It was my redshirt year and I wasn't playing. But it was the first huge college game I had been to. It was (Tim) Tebow's last time in Tiger Stadium. It was huge. The ‘Tiger Walk' was incredible. From the top of the hill looking down, all you saw was a sea of people."